Container



April 5, 1966 F. w. LAWSON CONTAINER 2 Sheets-Shet 1 Filed March 6, 1961 ATTORNEY April 5, 1966 F. w. LAWSON CONTAINER Filed March 6, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 5

m m M FR'ANK W. LAWSON FIG. 8

ATTORNEY Filed Mar. 6, 1961, Ser. No. 93,512

20 Claims. (Cl. 220- This invention relates to a container comprising two nestable members capable of interconnection to form a closed chamber, suitable for storing and transporting a large variety of commodities, embodying improvements over copendingg application Serial No. 3,117, filed January 18, 1960 of which this application may be deemed a continuation-in-part. t

Containers embodying the present invention are eminently suited for fluid materials of all kinds including those which are granular as well as those which solidify at reduced temperature. Moreover, these containers are useful for the handling of materials of larger sizes which would not be considered granular or fluid. t

The constructions contemplated by the present invention lend themselves to all types of handling including fork lift trucks, pallet trucks, slings, cranes, and all other conventional handling equipment. By virtueof the configurations contemplated by this invention, great economies are achieved in all types of storageg and shipment including water transportation involving rates based upon the shipping volume occupied, which is frequently computed on a cubic basis.

It is among the objects of the present invention to provide a container comprising two nestable members each of substantially rectangular cross section and each having side walls extending axially from a closed base to a relatively larger open base, the side walls containing stepped prismatic peripheral sections. These stepped sections preferably have substantially equal dimensions axially of the container and substantially equal dimensions transversely thereof. Each of the open bases preferably terminates in a peripheral rim having an axial dimension substantially equal to that of one of the stepped sections. Each of the stepped sections preferably includes substantially pyramidal wall portions.

The present invention contemplates a container com- I prising two nestable members each of substantially rectangular cross section and each having side Walls extend- .ing from a closed base to a relatively larger open base,

the open bases terminating in peripheral rims defining cooperating plug and socket members respectively, one of the members containing a peripheral recess and a deformable gasket disposed in the recess and extending peripherally therefrom for sealing engagementwith the other of the members. The recess is preferably formed in the plug member and preferably provides a surface composed -of rectilinear elements extending axially of the container. The gasket preferably includes a plurality of peripherally extending sealing elements formed of an elastomeric composition. 1

It is also among the objects of the present invention .to provide a container comprising two nestablemembers each of substantially rectangular cross section and each having side walls extending from a closed base to a relatively larger open base, a substantially rectangular reinforcing flange disposed at each open base, and cooperating clamping members carried by the flanges respectively, the clamping members having interengaging positions lying within a right rectangular prism having a cross United States Patent section including the flange. The cooperating clamping members are preferably disposed at the corners, respectively, of the flanges and preferably assume the formof cams and levers respectively. The cooperating clamping members are preferably provided with positive'locking means and they preferably provide eyes for the reception:

of hooks or cables for elevating and lowering operations.

3,244,312 Patented Apr. 5, 1966 'the closed base having corners, and a relatively movable supporting leg connected to the closed base of one of said members adjacent to each of its corners. These legs are preferably adjustable in pairs relative to the closed base to which they are connected and each of the closed bases is preferably recessed in registry with these legs to facilitate stacking and to lend stability to such a stack. The legs are preferably pivotally attached to one of the members and locking means will preferably be provided by the legs and closed base to which they are connected to maintain them in a fixed relative position.

A more complete understanding of the invention will follow from a description of the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a container embodying the present invention showing the two nestable members assembled in part, one clamping member beingin an operativ'e position, another clamping member being in a released position and the positions;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the structure depicted in FIG. 1 with all of the clamping members in their operative positions;

supporting legs in their extended FIG. 3 is an end elevation depicting the structure as shown in FIG.'2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional elevation on an enjlarged .scale ;.showing three of the members in nested relationship;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view on an en -larged scale depicting the clamping'structure of the preassembly or just after partial disassembly; and

FIG.- 11 is a fragmentary sectional elevation showing theflanges of FIG. 10 in their completely assembled relationship with the deformable dition. Y

-.The partially assembled container depicted in FIG. 1 comprises an upper member 20 and a lower member 22, each of substantially rectangular cross section as will be gasket in its sealing conevident from'FIG. 2; Each member is provided with a closed base 24, from which side walls .26 and 28 extend ax ally to a relatively larger open base 36. The side walls contain stepped prismatic peripheral sections 32 having substantially equal dimensions axially of the container and substant ally equal dimensions transversely of the container, which dimensions may be identified respectively,

b as thelength of the tread portion 34 of the stepped sections and the riser portion 36 thereof depicted in FIG. 4 and common to each of the sections in order to assure nestability of the members.

By virtue of the substantially rectangular cross section depicted in FIG. 2, departing from the rectangular configuration only at the rounded corners 38, the members constituting a container are substantially prismatic so as to assure a very efficient use of space as compared with drurnsof cylindrical and other configurations more conventionally employed at the present time. The curved corners fis-havebeen employed in the interest of strength, -resistance to impact and to render it possible -to "attach clamping members which will not project beyond the prism circumscribing the assembled container.

The stepped construction of the side walls'ofithe members is designed so that the axial dimension-of the tread portion -34 is approximately equal to the vertical nesting the material during the forming operation.andlprovides a surface area substantially 'greater'than'would 'be present were a straight draw employed, thereby ,agreatly increasing the heat transfer-capabilities'of the construction.

It will be noted that the stepped sections include ;pyramidal wall portions corresponding'to the'treadiportions 34 and riser portions 36 already described.

The open bases 30-terminate in peripheral-rims' 40,'the upper member 20 as shown in FIG. 10, for example, having its peripheralrim in the form or a plugmeniber 42 containing a recess l t-receiving a deformable gasket-46 extending peripherally therefrom .for engagement with the internal wall 48 f asocket member:50 1providedby the peripheral rim 40 formed on the lower mer'nbe'r 22. The axial wall of the recess 44 is composed of-Zrectilinear elements-extending axially of the container. Eachgasket '46 is shown as providing .a plurality of peripherally extending sealing elements 52 and elastomeric materials-are preferred for the purpose. 'When the members are assembled to assume relative positions asdepicte'd inFIG. 11, the peripherally extendingsealingelements will be displaced to their sealing p'ositionsin engagenie'ntwith the inner wall of the socket member 50 and in'engagement with other portions "of the gasket so as topreve'nt loss .of' any material within the container similar the same 'time exclude foreign materials from without. Thesocket member '50 is shown as terminating in -'a convergent portion 54 which will serve to guide the plug and socket'rnembers into proper engagement during'assembly.

It will be noted that'the axialdirnension required by "the plugandsocket members together wi'th their igasket appreciably exceeds the transverse dimension "so "as to economize in the'horizont'al arearequirements'o'f-thecontainer during storage and shipment.

The joint provided by the plug and-socket members together with'their gasket which is preferably-both 'deformable' and resilient readily compensates for' tolerances in the production of'the container components and=at"'the same time assures sealing engagement-when they'are assembled. This joint 'con'structionalso 'compens'ates" for minor deformation due to loading 'stresses, 'damage 'or'misalignment in assembly, particularly in the vertical' plan'e. As will'be evident from FIGS. 6,10and11,the=elearance between the plug and'so'cket memberswillperrn'it appreciable transverse relative movement.

The peripheral rims 4i) defining the plug'and socket members are substantially I rectangular as "will 'be evident from FIG. 2 and constitutereinforcingfi'anges at the'four corners of whichtheycarry cooperating 'clamping members having interengaging positions lying within a right rectangular prism having a cross section including *the flanges. The lowermember '22 to which'the lower rin- 'forcin'g flange 46 is secured by weldingor in othersuitable fashion carries 'anabutme'nt 56 'containing-"an ope'ning through whichca' pin 58 is inserted to 'defi-ne' a pivot for a bail 60 having a closed upperend L' 62 'to' provide aneye for reception of a cable vor hook 'of"the types"conventionally used in handling. Archer 64 is carried between the legs of thebail 60 by me'ans of-la pin 66 for engagement with the surface .68 of:a cam70 ca'rried' by the 'reinforcing flange 4t) welded orotherwisesecured to theiupper member 20. When the upper member has been applied to the lower member to define a container as depicted in FIGS; -1 and 3, by elevating .the bail from the position depicted at the right side of FIG. 1 to that depicted at the left side, cooperation between the roller 64 and the cam surface 68 will cause the two members to be drawn tightly together and accidental separation will be avoided. To further assure against accidental separation, the bail 60 is provided with an opening72 registrable with an opening formed in the cam 70 to receive a locking pin 74 having a threaded end 76 for cooperation with a thread formed in the registering opening providedby the cam.

Other specific forms of clamping members may be employed but regardless of their form they will always preferably lie within the circumscribing prism of the container in their operative positions and within the projections of the side walls of the container members when the members are nested.

The closed ends 24 of the members are provided with 'recesses'78, those formed in the lower members22 receiving supporting legs 80 and those formed in the upper rnember-Zll registering with the legs 80 in their extended positions. As depicted in FIG. 9, journals 82 will be secured to the closed ends 24'of the lower'members22 by welding'o'rthe like to receive shafts 84 for rotationwhereby thelegsSOcan be rotated from theextended'positions depicted in FIGS. 1, 3 and 9m retracted :positions in which they will lie "entirely within the recesses '78'so that the closed ends '24 'of'the lower members can'then lie in 'direct'zconta'ct withaho'rizontal surface. 'When the legs are extended they adapt the containers to be handled readily by means of a fork lift or-pallet' truck. Each leg includes a sleeve 86 secured to the shaft-84 integral with -pair of :arms 88 to which a foot 90 is connectedby a :tubulanpivo't pin 92. Thesleeve 86 is provided with a 35 sloti 94'toireceive a detent 96 in'the retracted position of the legand' a slot 98 for the reception of thesarne detent intheaextendedposition'of the leg. A shown. in FlG. 8, journals-at each pair .of cornersare aligned so that the shafts l84aof .pairsof legs can beinterconnected by a rod :100 iwhosexthreaded endcarries a locking nut 102 so that ::a 7pairtoflegscan be actuated together from one side of the container. .Ea'chdetent 96 is-adapted to be received "throughia slot formed in-a guide block 104 suitably sescureittotthe closed base of each lower member 22 adjacent each sleeve 86 to assure registry with the'slots '94 and 98.

-Also"zsecuredto theclosed base of eachlower member :22 by: means of pivot pins 106 are a pair of 'links'ltls on which the idetents' 96 are suitably mounted. The links @108 aretinterconnected by a 'pin'llt) and a slot 112 so thatx'when one 1ofithe links is moved to advance its detent .96ltowards the sleeve 86, the other link will cause its ."detent.-96 tobefmoved similarly with respect to its sleeve -:86.=thereby rendering it feasible to efiect latching of each individ-ual leg'of a pair of legs from one side of the con- .tainer. llfi'desired,lit may be su'lficient to latch only one leg.of each pair since the other leg iscarried by the same 'iIZOdtlOO-SO that'latching of one would tend to restrain'the other as well.

.The'details of the leg operatingand latchingarrangements.haveibeendepicted onlyinFiGS. 8 and 9 for purposes of clarity.

'iThese ilegs "are .rendered retractable for :economy in z'sto'rageian'd;transportation space which is particularly imizportantaon shipboard and to;lower the center of gravity .for stability.

The vclosed end '24 vof the upper member is provided -with'.-a threaded plug or otherxclosure 112 for filling opera- -;.tions. At.one:corner of theclosed base of the. ClGSEAZl'ZbZISG .of-"theupper' member. 24 there is also provided a threaded opening toireceive a plug or valve 114 which may serve asavent or as-a pressure inlet port to assist in the expul- One corner of No. 3,140,793, for coop ration with a penetrating member used to fracture a diaphragm or otherwise break a seal.

It will be noted that the overall length of each peripheral flange 40 parallel to the axis of symmetry of its respective member 20 or 22, is equal to the length of each stepped section 32, made up of the portions 34 and 36, measured parallel to the same axis. Accordingly, 'when the members are arranged in nested relationship as depicted in FIG. 4, the peripheral flanges contact one another, maintaining the stepped sections in mutually spaced relationship and serving to protect the thinner portions of the members which are more susceptible to damage.

In view of the great strength and rigidity achieved by the present construction, the use of aluminum and its alloys as the principal material composing the members is not only feasible, but, because of its relatively low specific gravity, highly desirable. Where weight is not an important factor, other construction materials can, of course, be employed.

Whereas only one form of the invention has been described with reference to the accompanying drawings, a number of variations will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art and will fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Iclaim:

1. A container comprising two readily separable nestable members each having side walls extending axially from a closed base to a relatively larger open base each having substantiall rectangular cross sections parallel to said bases, means carried by said open bases providing interengaging radial surfaces relatively supporting said members with their proximate side walls in spaced relationship when said members are nested, said side walls containing stepped prismatic peripheral sections, said larger open bases terminating in complementary sealing surfaces and carrying cooperating clamping elements.

2. A container according to claim 1 wherein said stepped sections have substantially equal dimensions axially of said container.

3. A container according to claim 1. wherein said stepped sections have substantially equal dimensions transversely of said container.

4. A container according to claim 1 wherein each of said open bases terminates in a peripheral rim having an axial dimension substantially equal to that of one of said stepped sections.

5. A container according to claim 1 wherein said stepped sections include pyramidal wall portions.

6. A container comprising two nestable members each having side Walls comprising substantially uniform steps extending from a closed base to a relatively larger open base and each having substantially rectangular cross sections parallel to said bases, said open bases terminating in peripheral rims defining cooperating plug and socket members respectively, each of said rims having an axial dimension substantially equal to that of one of said steps, said rims providing interengaging radial surfaces relatively supporting said members with their proximate side Walls in spaced relationship when said members are nested, one of said members containing a peripheral recess, and a deformable gasket disposed in said recess and extending peripherally therefrom for sealing engagement with the other of said members.

7. A container according to claim 6 wherein said recess is formed in said plug member.

8. A container according to claim 6 wherein said recess provides a surface composed of rectilinear elements extending axially of said container.

9. A container according to claim 6 wherein said gasket includes a plurality of peripherally extending sealing elements.

10. A container according to claim 6 wherein said gasket is elastomeric.

11. A container comprising two nestable members each of substantially rectangular cross section and each having side walls extending from a closed base to a relatively larger open base, a substantially rectangular reinforcing flange disposed at each open base, and cooperating clamping members carried by said flanges respectively, said clamping members having interengaging positions lying within a right rectangular prism having a cross section substantially coextensive with said flange.

12. A container according to claim 11 wherein said cooperating clamping members are disposed at the corners respectively of said flanges.

13. A container according to claim 11 wherein said cooperating clamping members are cams and levers respectively.

14. A container according to claim 11 wherein said cooperating clamping members are provided with positive locking means.

15. A container according to claim 11 wherein said cooperating clamping members provide eyes.

16. A container comprising two readily separable nestable members each of substantially rectangular cross section and each having side walls extending from a closed base to a relatively larger open base, said closed base of one member having corners each providing a recess, and a relatively movable supporting leg pivotally connected to the closed base of said one member adjacent to each of its corners each said leg having smaller dimensions than its respective recess for reception entirely within its respective recess whereby the closed base Will bear directly on a supporting surface.

17. A container according to claim 16 wherein said legs are adjustable in pairs relative to the closed base to which they are connected.

1%. A container according to claim 16 wherein each said closed base is recessed in registry with said legs.

19. A container according to claim 16 wherein said legs and closed base to which they are connected are provided with locking means to maintain them in a fixed relative position.

20. A container according to claim 1 wherein said members have curved corners joining adjacent walls thereof.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 924,520 6/ 1909 Wright 2205 1,884,636 10/1932 Fans. 1,903,168 3/1933 Cordrey 292246 2,083,340 6/1937 Merker 220--36 2,258,285 10/ 1941 Fish 220-5 2,457,842 1/ 1949 Smith 220'-1.5 2,715,540 8/1955 Potter 292-241 2,907,492 10/1959 Robertson 220-81 2,916,901 12/1959 Claude-Mantle 292-246 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,985 of 1853 Great Britain. 7,643 of 1900 Great Britain.

THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner, FRANKLIN T. GARRETT, Examiner. G. E. LOWRANCE, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A CONTAINER COMPRISING TWO READILY SEPARABLE NESTABLE MEMBERS EACH HAVING SIDE WALLS EXTENDING AXIALLY FROM A CLOSED BASE TO A RELATIVELY LARGER OPEN BASE EACH HAVING SUBSTANTIALLY RETANGULAR CROSS SECTIONS PARALLEL TO SAID BASES, MEANS CARRIED BY SAID OPEN BASES PROVIDING INTERENGAGING RADIAL SURFAES RELATIVELY SUPPORTING SAID MEMBERS WITH THEIR PROXIMATE SIDE WALLS IN SPACED RELATIONSHIP WHEN SAID MEMBERS ARE NESTED, SAID SIDE WALLS CONTAINING STEPPED PRISMATIC PERIPHERAL SECTIONS, SAID LARGER OPEN BASES TERMINATING IN COMPLEMENTARY SEALING SURFACES AND CARRYING COOPERATING CLAMPING ELEMENTS. 